Floating egg
Fill a glass with water, add an egg (boiled or raw) and observe how the egg sinks. Pour in two teaspoonfuls of salt at a time and stir carefully. Continue until the egg starts to rise and float. This teaches kids about density.

Science is all around us and it is never too early to nurture the “innate scientist” in your child.
The inquiry-based approach is embraced by the American and Singapore education authorities for teaching science in schools, and motivates children to observe, think, ask questions and to investigate.
Here are tips to get you started.
Ask and ask
Encourage your child to observe, ask questions, and explore. For a start, focus on the science process skills of observing, comparing and classifying.
Related: 3 ways to teach your preschooler language, maths and science through everyday activities
Make learning fun
Leverage on your child’s area of interest as a springboard for learning.
Related: Child not interested in learning? Here’s what you can do
Show, don't tell
As the old adage goes, “Tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand”.
Get your child involved in meaningful activities or science experiments to enhance his learning.
Related: 7 ways to help your child score in primary school science
Discuss and apply
Weave in the facts, vocabulary and explanation of the science concept as you teach them to read widely.
This broadens the child’s horizons and help build up his vocabulary.
Ready to embark on this inquiry-based guiding journey now? Here are some activities using the theme of water:
Move it
Find some transparent plastic containers. Add water and a few drops of food colouring. Let your child watch how water moves.
Floating egg
Fill a glass with water, add an egg (boiled or raw) and observe how the egg sinks. Pour in two teaspoonfuls of salt at a time and stir carefully. Continue until the egg starts to rise and float. This teaches kids about density.
Shape race
If your child has a pet fish, observe the shape of the fish and how it swims. Conduct a “shape race” experiment by using modelling clay.
Make different shapes of about the same size – the shape of a fish, a square or a star shape. Place them at the top of three tall bottles filled with water and observe which one flows through fastest.
Ask your child to guess why the tear-drop shape flows through fastest. (Hint: angles and sharp curves break up the flow, increase drag and slow down the movement.)
(Photos: 123RF.com)